Automatic air-volume-controlling device for water-storage tanks



June 19, 1928. 1,674,341

- A. PENN AUTOMATIC AIR VOLUME CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR WATEF STORAGE TANKS Filed Dec. 12, 1927 V A da /272k)!" ffii/ flzzzz M Patented June 19, 1928.-

UNITED STATES ALBERT PENN, 0F DES MOINES, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO PENN ELECTRIC SWITCH COM- PANY, 0F DES MOINES, IOWA, A COIARTNEESHIP COMPOSED 0F RALIH PENN, MARY S. PENN, ALBERT PENN, AND BLAN CHE G. PENN.

AUTOMATIC AIR-VOLUME-CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR WATER-STORAGE TANKS.

Application filed December 12, 1927. Serial No. 239,608. D

in section and also illustrating the connec- The object of my invention is to provide an automatic air volume controlling device for water storage tanks of simple, durable, and comparatively inexpensive construction.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of this character adapted to be used in connection with a water storage tank and a pump therefor whereby a desired maximum amount of air required for the operation of the water system is at all times automatically maintained within the storage tank.

More particularly it'is my object to provide a device of this character comprising a fitting adapted to be secured to a screw threaded boss on the storage tank adjacent the point where the" maximum water level is to be controlled and consisting of an air valve opened by a fioat whenever the water in the tank rises above the predetermined level, the valve being connected by a tube to th head of the water pump whereby air will be admitted through the pump to the tank as water is pumped therein.

Still a further object is to design my device whereby the parts projecting into the interior of the storage tank may be conveniently inserted through the opening in which the device is mounted whereby ease of attachment to the tank or removal therefrom is facilitated.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts ofvmy device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as herein after more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Although, the invention is susceptible of a variety of embodiments, it is unnecessary to 7 fully describe and illustrate more than one in order to give a full understanding of the invention both from its structural and functional standpoints. Accordingly, I have illustrated a preferred and desirableembodi ment of the invention in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a water storage tank, a water pump therefor and my improved controlling device attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line I 2--2 of Figure 1 illustrating the air valve tion of the air valve to the cylinder of the pump shown in section.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view on the 11119 33' of Figure 2 illustrating the relationof my device to the storage tank.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 illustrating the action of the cam for opening the air valve; and

Figure 5 is a sectional View on the line 55 of Figure 3 illustrating the float which I use in connection with my device.

In the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate a water storage tank forthe purpose of storing a supply of water to be drawn off to faucets or the like. A pump 12 operated by an electric motor 14 is used for pumping water from a well or source of supply through the pipes 16 and 18 and into the storage tank 10. The motor 14 is automatically regulated as to stopping and starting by a pressure controlled switch actuated by the pressure within the tank 10.

The tank 10 is designed to receive, and expel the water 20 and in order to do so an air space 22 is necessary above the level of the water. When water is pumped into the tank 10, the size of the air space 22 decreases as the air therein is compressed. The compressed air serves to force the water from the tank 10 after the pump 12 has sto ped and the faucets or the like are opened The foregoing description is of an ordinary water supply system as used on farms where some other source of water supply is not available. Although I have shown a reciprocating. -piston, type of pumpin my drawings, my device can be used in connection with other types of pumps for the same through the faucets. This res ts in thelevel of the water 20 gradually rising in the tank 10 until only a small air space is left. It is desirable to have a considera 1e air space so that after the pump has been stopped,

several gallons of water may be Withdrawn from the tank before it is again necessary to start and operate the pump. Asthe air space decreases, the pump 12. starts when only a small amount of water has been withdrawn from the tank. This results in the starting and stopping of the pump when even a'small quantity of water is withdrawn from the tank at one time. \Vith the air space 22 of the right proportions several gallons of water may be withdrawn from the tank 10 at any spaced intervals resulting in the pump 12 not being started during this time. Another advantage when the amount of air within the storage tank is held at a maximum or desired amount, is that in case the motor does not operate due to the electric current being cut off for some time, there is still in the tank a sufiicient amount of air so that all the water may be drawn from the tank. I therefore provide a device for automatically maintaining the proper amount of air space within the tank at all times.

The hand or manually controlled way of regulating the air space is herebelow set forth. a

To overcome the air space 22 diminishing to an undesirably small volume, a valve indicated generally by the reference character A is mounted in the head of the cylinder 24 of the pump 12. The valve A comprises a fitting 26 having received therein an ordinary tire type valve 28 which is generally capped by an ordinary tire cap which I have not shown. The valve A is provided on all water pumps and the tanks 10 are usually provided with water gauges so that the level of water in the tank can be observed. When the water level is adjacent the top of the water gauge, the operator of the system must remove the cap on the valve A which allows air to enter on the suction stroke of the pis ton 30. In Figure 2 I have illustrated this action wherein bubbles 32 have been drawn through the valve 28 and into the cylinder 24. Then after the water level has been lowered to a point adjacent the bottom of the water gauge, the tire cap is replaced on the valve A so that no more air will be dralvivn. into the pump and forced into the tan It has been my primary object to provide an automatic device which will operateat all times without attention for admitting air through the valve A whenever the level of water in the tank becomes too high. My device comprises a fitting 34 having a screw threaded extension 36 adapted to be screwed into a boss 38 formed on the side of the tank 10 adjacent the point at which the water level is to be maintained. The use of a water sight gauge is entirely eliminated, my device taking care of the water level so that it requires no attention.

The fitting 34 is internally screw threaded at its inner end to receive a tube 40. The tube 40 extends-toward the interior of the tank 10 and is designed to rotatably receive a shaft 42. The shaft 42 is journaled in sleeves 44 and 46 pressed into the tube 40.

The shaft 42 bends at right angles to form a float arm 48. The float arm 48 extends through a slot 50' formed in the inner end of the tube 40. The'edges of the slot 50 act as stops for the float arm 48.

The end of the arm 48 is screw threaded whereby it may be connectedto a float 52. The float 52 has a screw threaded boss 54 tocoact with the end of the arm 48. A lock nut 56 is provided for locking the float 52 relative to the float arm 48.

The fitting 34 is provided with an extension 58 having a screw threaded opening to receive a valve tube 60. The valve tube 60 is provided with a lock nut 62 for locking the tube relative to the extension 58. A valve member 64 coacts with the upper end of the valve tube 60 and is held thereagainst by a spring 66. The spring 66 is connected to the fitting 3L and serves to support the valve member 64.

The valve member 64 is provided with a socket 68 in which is forced a rubber or composition plug 70. The upper end of the valve tube 60 is tapered to form a sharpened edge around the opening in this tube with which the plug 7 O coacts for normally closing the tube 60. The valve tube 60 is connected by a tube 72 preferably of copper and small in diameter to the valve A.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that when the valve member 64 is raised, air will enter the valve .tube 60 and flow through the tube 72 into the pump 12 whereby it will be pumped into the storagetank 10 with the incoming supply of water.

For raising the valve member 64 I provide a cam 74 mounted on the shaft 42. The cam 74 is provided with a fiat portion 76 which normally assumes the dotted line position ilits lower position as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 5. The cam 74 is secured to the shaft 42 by a set screw 78. When the cam 74 is moved to the full line position shown in Figure 4, the valve member 64 will be raised as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings.

For preventing leakage around the shaft 42 I provide a packing sleeve 80 slidably mounted inside the tube 40. Between the packing sleeve 80 and the sleeve 44 (which is also provided with a tapered packing surface) I mount a packing material 82. The outer end of the tube 40 extends through the fitting 34 and is internally screw threaded to receive a plug 84. Between the plug 84 and the movable sleeve 80 is a spring 86 which will at all times maintain the packing 82 tight without further attention. The plug 84 11 lustrated in Figure 4 when the float 52 is at the fitting 34 I provide a casing 90. The

casing 90 has a slot 92 to extend around the valve tube 60 when the casing is inserted in position. An arm 94 and a screw 96 provide a means for connecting the casing 90 to the fitting 34. The arm 94 is merely an extension of the bracket 58.

Practical operation.

In the operation of my device assuming that there is suflicient predetermined amount of air in the tank 10 to operate properly, the float 52 will assume the dotted line position illustrated in Figure 5 with the arm 48 resting against the lower edge of the slot 50. As long as there is suflicient air in the tank to properly expel water fromthe tank without cutting the motor 14 into and out of circuit except as a considerable quantity of water is withdrawn from the tank, my device will remain inoperative. However, when the air space 22 is diminished to a predetermined point so that the float 52 will be raised by the level of the water in the tank, the valve member 64 will be raised for allowing air to enter the pump. This will continue until the maximum high water level has been sufliciently lowered for proper operation of the water system and for allowing the proper air space above the water.

My device maintains in the tank, a proper predetermined air space wherein the amount of water withdrawn from the tank may be of considerable volume before the pump is again thrown into operation.

Some. changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my'device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intentlon to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which maybe reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A float controlled air valve comprising a fitting adapted to be screwed into a tank, a tube extending therefrom, a shaft in said tube, a float at the endof said tube and connected with said shaft for rotatin the same, said tube and float being adapte to be inserted in said tank through the opening which receives said fitting and a valve on said fitting adapted to be opened by rotation of said shaft caused by said float when liquid in the tank rises to a predetermined level.

2. A float controlled air valve comprising a fitting adapted to be screwed into a tank, a tube extendin therefrom, a shaft in. said tube, a float at t e end of said tube and connected with said shaft for rotating the same, said tube and float being adapted to be. inserted in said tank through the opening which receivessaid fittin a valve tube on said fitting, a valve mem er normally contacting with oneend of said tube,a cam on said shaft adapted to raise said member upon actuation of the shaft caused by the rise of liquid in said tank to a predetermined level which causes said float to be raised.

ALBERT PENN. 

